40 a printed list of the successful candidates was subsequently circulated throughout the Organization. Since those con- cerned were notified in advance of the verdict in their particular case, the main interest of the list lay in keeping abreast of the fortunes of one's col- leagues. It is a rare heart that truly re- joices in a friend's prosperity, and it must be confessed that the offices and corridors of the Organization were swept, ever) six months, by gasps of indignation, of disgust, of incredulity at the revelation of the latest promotions-and by cor- respondingly magnified sighs of solici- tude on behalf of those rejected. Just such gusts as these were sweep- ing the small grey office of Mr. Bekkus when Swoboda entered It on the morn- ing of the half-yearly list. Mr. Bek- kus, as a member of a similar group- the Appointments and Terminations Board-was practically bound to hold his colleagues on this parallel body in 10 T esteem. And his ill-humor was in- creased, that day, by the fact that he was once more faced with the task of eXplaining the absence of Swoboda's name on the promotions roster. As Swoboda came into the room, Mr. Bekkus was standing by the win- dow and holding the list to the light as if to verify the evidence of his eyes. "Claude Willoughby! Claude Wil- loughby!" he repeated, as if of all Claudes this was the most unsuitable. "Cedric Sandaranayke! After this, any- thing's possible. Sit down, Swoboda." Stil1 standing in the light, Mr. Bekkus turned the page and read on. "Ken- neth Eliufoo-that's geographical of course, though it won't satisfy the Af- ricans, you can be sure of that. Paquita Vargas-well, we all know how shr got here. . . . And I see old Marcel made it at last." Reluctantly turning from self- punishment, he replaced the list on his desk and sat down. "Er-Swoboda," he said, looking about hIs papers as if trying to recaH what Swoboda was doing there. Swoboda looked at Mr. Bekkus with something more than his usual com- posure. It was part of Swoboda's mis- fortune that he pitied Mr. Bekkus; that, in his resistance to Mr. Bekkus, he was inhibited by the knowledge that Mr. Bekkus was pathetic. Not that this insight was, in itself, supernatural- for others would have quickly ar- rived at the same conchlsIon-but what made Swoboda unusual was that he persisted in the conviction even though he had spent some years in the power of Mr. Bekkus and had suffered from the silliness and Insensibility that constituted Mr. Bekkus' pathos. By now, surely, the sense of pathos should have given way to indignation at being subordinate to such a figure. But no. Swoboda had never said to anyone, "I'm sorry for him" (although in the Organization this was a recog- nized means of expressing contempt for } . . " 1 ' an unsympat letlC supenor- m sorry for him, I truly am; he's pathetic" being uttered frequently and fiercely, through clenched teeth). He had not even said it to himself. But in his heart he knew that Bekkus was a foolish man, a small, ignorant, and preten- tious man, and that he, Swoboda, was his superior in all but official rank. Swohoda was aware that Mr. Bekkus had treated him ungenerously, had often been petty and unJust. He sometimes dwelt on this, almost hope- fully, in his mind. But it was no use He continued to find Mr. Bekkus pa- thetic. And therein lay Swohoda's mIS- fortune-one might even have said, Swoboda's tragedy. "1 suppose," Mr. Bekkus began, as if Swoboda had requested the interview, "you will want to discuss certain fac- tors of your situation." Personal mat- - ters, for Bekkus, came in situations, eletnents, and factors. \Vhen Swoboda said nothing, he went on. "As you know, I myself have done everything possible to expedite the processing of your up-grading." After a pause he added, "That goes without saying." Swoboda evidently concurred in this last remark, for another sIlence fell. "There are some very slow-thinking individuals on the Promotions Board, Swoboda. And then, when you see who is accepted. . ." He lightly dashed the promotions list with the back of hIs hand, as if Swoboda would hardly wish to make one of such a disreputable com- pany. "Well, we all know the delays that-ah-militate against rapId ad- vancement In the junior grades. But] think I can assure you, Swoboda, that your up-grading will be followed th rough in the foreseeable future-that is, dt the next meeting of the Board." Mr. Bekkus lowered his voice. "This is confidential, of course." Swoboda merely said, "1 see, sir." Bekkus began to be irritated with Swoboda. "} trust, Swoboda," he said . h ." I WIt some seventy, t 1at you an.:: not too dissatisfied?" After a moment, Swoboda replied, "Yes, Mr. Bekkus." Mr. Bekkus, who had been scoring his blotter with a pencil, hesitated. Be- fore he could make up his mind whether the ambiguity of Swohoda's reply bore investigation, Swohoda him- self elucidated. "} mean, yes, I am too dissatisfied, Mr Bekkus." Mr. Bekkus covered his surprise with a veneer of forbearance. He even smiled-a patient smile, an administra- tive smile, a smile that bespoke experi- ence and concern. "It's natural that you should feel disappointed," he began. " y ." es, SIr. " B 1 ,. 1 . d " ut, as ve Just exp aIne to you,